Collide: The Memory of Stars

Third Person's POV

The silence that followed was heavy, filled with unspoken grief. The Last Mage was gone, his essence now intertwined with the very magic of the Heart's fragment.

The once-sunken Bastion, long a tomb of forgotten power, had fulfilled its purpose.

Selene knelt before the spot where he had vanished, her hands trembling as she touched the cooled stone.

"You should have seen it," she murmured, her voice carrying the weight of sorrow. "Eldoria… the way you wanted it to be."

Khael let out a sharp breath, running a hand through his hair. "Damn it… He didn't even give us a chance to stop him."

His usual fiery demeanor was dimmed, the loss settling in his chest like a stone.

Axel stood in silence, his blue eyes dark with emotion. Tyra, ever the warrior, sheathed her sword with slow deliberation before stepping forward. "We should honor him properly," she said.

"His sacrifice must not be forgotten."

The group gathered what little remained of him—a fragment of cloth, a sigil etched into the stone where he had stood.

They placed them together in a small alcove within the Bastion, a place where the light of the newly restored fragment shone brightest.

Selene placed her hand over her chest, where the Leviathan's mark still pulsed with warmth.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

But their journey was not yet over.

Axel turned toward the ancient altar, where the Heart's magic still resonated in quiet hums. Resting there, untouched for centuries, was the final piece they had come for—the scroll containing the ritual to unseal the Heart of Eldoria.

Selene approached first, brushing her fingers along its aged surface. The script, though worn, still pulsed with latent magic, a testament to the knowledge preserved within.

"This is it," she murmured. "The key to undoing the last seal."

Carefully, she lifted the scroll and held it close to her chest. No one spoke, but a silent understanding passed between them. They had everything they needed.

With one last moment of silence, they turned away, their path now set. The Bastion, its purpose fulfilled, was crumbling around them, the ancient magic that had once held it beneath the ocean now dissipating.

The Leviathan stirred, its great form shifting as it turned its gaze upon them.

"You have what you seek. The Bastion's time is over. Come, I will take you back."

The journey upward was unlike anything they had experienced. The Leviathan's presence surrounded them, the water bending to its will as they ascended through the ruins of the sunken fortress.

The Dark Matter had faded, unable to stand against the sacrifice that had been made.

When they broke through the surface, the Sanctuary awaited them.

The remnants of Eldoria's people—Lira, Elira, and the others—stood at the ready, their eyes filled with hope and fear in equal measure.

Lira stepped forward first, her hands clasped tightly. "You did it?"

Selene nodded, her fingers brushing over the fragment that now pulsed in her grasp. "We did."

A hush fell over the Sanctuary as the realization settled. A piece of the Heart had been restored. The first step toward reclaiming Eldoria had been taken.

And though their grief was fresh, their hope burned brighter than ever.

They immediately gathered everyone.

The research hall, though small and hastily constructed, had become the heart of their planning. Within its stone walls, illuminated by flickering lanterns, the remnants of Eldoria's scholars, warriors, and survivors gathered.

Maps, ancient texts, and fragments of lost knowledge covered every available surface as they worked tirelessly to prepare for the final step in restoring Eldoria.

Selene, Axel, Khael, and Tyra sat around a worn wooden table, joined by several elders who had dedicated themselves to preserving the remnants of their once-great kingdom. The air was thick with unspoken tension, yet determination gleamed in their eyes.

Axel reached into his cloak, carefully pulling out the aged scroll they had recovered from the Bastion. The parchment hummed with magic, its script shifting faintly in the flickering light.

"This is the key," he said, unrolling it. "The spell that will break the last seal and awaken the Heart's full power."

One of the elders, an aged man with deep wrinkles carved by time, leaned forward. "The Heart still beats—it has given us this sanctuary, protecting what remains of Eldoria. But its power is fractured, barely reaching beyond these lands. If we restore it completely, its magic will flow through all of Eldoria once more."

Tyra crossed her arms, her gaze sharp. "Then we need to be careful. If the release is too sudden, we risk overwhelming the land instead of reviving it."

Khael exhaled. "And while we're handling that, we still have one more problem—the people."

Selene glanced around the room. "We need them to believe again. The Heart responds to them as much as it does to us. Their strength, their faith… it's just as crucial as magic."

One of the elders sighed. "Many have given up hope. Even if we tell them the truth, it may not be enough."

Axel's grip tightened on the scroll. "Then we don't just tell them. We show them."

Tyra nodded. "We gather everyone at the Heart's resting place—the site of the battle, where Eldoria nearly fell. If they see it with their own eyes, if they feel the magic still alive, they will understand."

Selene placed a hand over her chest, where the Leviathan's mark still pulsed with warmth.

"Then we begin now. We find the ones who still believe. We show them that the Heart has never truly stopped beating… and neither has Eldoria."

Selene's POV

The research hall buzzed with activity as plans were set in motion. I stood at the table, my fingers brushing against the ancient parchment that held the key to Eldoria's salvation. Axel's words lingered in my mind, solidifying the weight of our responsibility.

One objective, One Path.

I took a slow breath, steadying myself. I had always followed, always listened to those stronger, wiser. But now… now I had to step forward. The people needed someone to believe in. They needed proof that Eldoria was not lost.

I lifted my gaze, meeting the expectant eyes of those around me. "We start with the people," I said, my voice firmer than I expected.

"If they do not stand with us, if they do not believe in Eldoria's return, then all of this will be for nothing. We cannot complete the Rite of Unification alone."

Lira nodded, approval flickering in her tired eyes. "Then we gather them. But many have lost hope. How do we convince them?"

"We don't just speak," Axel said, stepping away from the table. "We show them."

The air was thick with the scent of burning wood and damp stone as we stood at the center of the Sanctuary.

A large gathering had formed, the remnants of Eldoria's people watching us with wary eyes. Some looked eager, hopeful.

Others skeptical, their faith long since shattered.

I stepped forward, my heart hammering against my ribs. The fragment of the Heart pulsed faintly against my palm, as if urging me onward.

"We have all suffered," I began, my voice carrying through the open space.

"We have lost our homes, our families, our faith. I know many of you believe Eldoria is beyond saving."

A murmur rippled through the crowd. An older woman near the front, her eyes dull with exhaustion, scoffed.

"And what makes you think you can change that? Words will not rebuild what we lost."

I met her gaze, unwavering. "No. Words alone won't. But I am not asking for blind faith." I lifted the fragment for all to see.

"This—this is proof that Eldoria's heart still beats. That its power is not gone. We have restored part of it already, and with your help, we can bring it back."

A man in the crowd stepped forward, his expression conflicted. "You say that, but how? We have nothing left. What do you expect us to do?"

Axel moved to stand beside me. "The Rite of Unification," he said. "A ritual that can bind the land, sea, and sky once more. It requires all of you—your presence, your belief. This is not a battle won by warriors alone."

Silence stretched as uncertainty warred with longing in their eyes.

Khael, ever impatient, let out a frustrated sigh. "Damn it, we don't have time for doubt. Look around you! You're still here. That means you haven't given up completely. Or are you all content to let Eldoria remain in ruin?"

A few heads lifted, indignation sparking in some faces. That was the reaction we needed.

Tyra stepped forward then, her voice calm but commanding. "I have fought for many things in my life. I have seen kingdoms fall. But never have I seen a people rise from the ashes with such strength. If there is a chance—no, even the smallest sliver of hope—you must take it."

The crowd shifted. Some still hesitated, but the seed had been planted.

I stepped forward, my pulse steady now. "I will lead you. Not as a warrior, not as a ruler, but as one of you. I have seen what awaits if we do nothing. And I refuse to let that be our fate."

Silence. Then, slowly, one by one, heads nodded. Hands clenched with renewed purpose. The first spark of belief ignited in their eyes.

Lira turned to me, a small smile on her lips. "You've done it."

I exhaled, steadying myself. "It's only the beginning".

And now, they followed me.

The weight of their eyes was heavy on my back as I walked through the heart of what remained. Hundreds of survivors trailed behind me, their footsteps merging into a rhythmic march against the broken stone roads.

Some whispered to one another, their voices laced with uncertainty. Others walked in silence, watching, waiting for a reason to believe.

I had never been one to lead. That had always been someone else's role. But no one else could do this. It had to be me.

As we neared the battlefield—the place where I had fought Vhezeroth, where the earth had been scarred by our clash—I felt a strange stillness settle over me. This was where it all began. Where we had lost. Where we had buried Aldric.

Now, it would be the place where we would rise again.

I stepped onto the remnants of the old stone platform, my hands tightening around the fragment of the Heart. The people gathered in a wide circle around me, murmurs spreading like wind through dry leaves.

Axel stood at my side, watching, waiting. Khael crossed his arms, his gaze hard but steady. Tyra stood tall, her broadsword resting at her side. Lira, solemn and composed, was just behind me, ready to guide if needed.

I inhaled deeply and turned to face them all.

"We are here because we still have something left to fight for," I said, my voice carrying through the open space.

"Because even after everything—after the battles, the losses, the suffering—you are all still here. Eldoria still stands. And now, it is time to bring it back."

The crowd shifted, some nodding, some still unconvinced.

I held up the fragment of the Heart, letting its soft glow illuminate my face. "This proves that Eldoria's power has not died. That its spirit still lingers, waiting for us to awaken it. But the Heart cannot restore itself alone. It needs us—all of us."

A murmur rippled through the gathered people. I could see it in their eyes—the fear, the doubt. The unwillingness to hope, only to be disappointed again.

An older man near the front stepped forward, his face lined with age and grief. "And what if it fails?" he asked, voice hoarse with skepticism.

"What if we speak these words, and nothing happens? What if Eldoria truly is lost?"

I met his gaze without wavering. "Then we will know we tried," I said.

"We will know that, until the very end, we fought to bring our home back. That we did not surrender to despair."

Axel stepped forward beside me, his voice strong. "This isn't just a ritual," he said. "It's proof that Eldoria still breathes. You've all lost something. So have we. But now, you have the chance to take something back."

Lira nodded. "This is our one chance. If we do not do this now, Eldoria will remain as it is—a broken memory. But if we succeed, we can rebuild. Together."

Tyra planted her sword into the ground, her gaze sharp. "We do not need warriors or kings. We need belief. That is what will bring Eldoria back."

A long silence stretched over the gathered crowd. Then, slowly, one by one, heads nodded. Hands clenched with determination. A fire sparked in their eyes, hesitant but real.

Hope.

I turned back to the Heart, its form still sealed beneath layers of ancient stone. The fragment in my hands pulsed in response, sensing what was about to begin.

I exhaled and raised it high.

"The Rite of Unification begins now," I declared. "Say the words with everything you have. Let the Heart hear you."

The wind stirred as I lifted my chin and spoke in the language of our ancestors

"Féon valdris, ena solmara.Levathis eldora, norain il'saera.Mirae althorin, vares thal'dora!Lys ethrial, surai venor!"

(Light of the ancients, awaken once more.Heart of Eldoria, bind the land and sky.By our will, let the world be whole!Rise anew, shine forever!)

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then—

A single voice joined mine. Then another. Then dozens. Then hundreds.

Their voices rose together, hesitant at first, then strong, filling the sky with power.

The ground trembled beneath us. Energy crackled in the air, wrapping around us like unseen threads weaving something new into existence. The fragment in my hands burned white-hot.

Then, with a deep, resounding crack—

The seal shattered.

A wave of golden light erupted from the Heart, surging upward, illuminating the ruins. The magic swept through us like a rushing tide, spreading warmth, filling the cracks in the land, in the sky, in us.

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd as the glow of the Heart expanded, its dormant energy finally unleashed.

I felt it—felt Eldoria breathing again, felt its ancient presence awakening from its long slumber.

Axel's hand found my shoulder, steady and grounding. I turned to him, heart pounding.

We had done it.

No more waiting. No more doubt.

With shaking fingers, I stepped forward and placed the fragment into the Heart.

Everything went white.

To be continued.